Bottle filling method and apparatus



Nov. 10, 1936 C. W. BONDURANT BOTTLE FILLING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed. March 6, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Car/Z 77 MEM M7 1.

ATTORNEYJ Nov. 10, 1936. c. w. BONDURANT I BOTTLE FILLING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed March 6, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet- 2 3nvento r Car/{0n WBanofurc/mi mull/ 111511 E /2/417/ v u 1] llllllllllllllll lllllllll (lttorneg s.

Nov. 10, 1936. c. w. BONDURANT BOTTLE FILLING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed March 6, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ell ZSnventor Car/i077 WBODQ'uramf.

Patented Nov. 10, 1936 I V UNITED STATES PATEN QFFICE BOTTLE FILLING METHOD AND APPARATUS Carlton W. Bondurant, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Bishop & Babcock Mfg. Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 6, 1934, Serial No. 714,287

16 Claims. (Cl. 226-114) This invention relates to methods and appanumber of receptacles such as bottles by mecharatus for filling receptacles, particularly to methnism accomplishing the filling in such a manner ods and apparatus for this purpose of the type that the rate of fiow of liquid into the bottles wherein a plurality of bottles or the like conmay be controlled to avoid agitation of the liquid tinuously fed to a machine are automatically to prevent, in the case of carbonated or like 5 and successively filled with a beverage such as liquid, loss of gas in solution. beer, carbonated syrup and the like. Another object is to provide a receptacle filling My invention comprises certain features of" apparatus of the type referred to in which the improvement over the methods and apparatus illiquid may flow into the receptacle by gravity lustrated in United States Letters Patent No. and the weight of the liquid flowing into the 10 956,285 and No. 956,286, issued to J. H- Champ, receptacle may be counter-balanced in an im- April 26, 1910, to which patents reference may proved manner to overcome or counter-balance be hand for a fuller description of certain auxila predetermined part of the force of gravity on iary parts of mechanism not herein described in the flowing liquid to predetermine the rate of detail. flow of the liquid into the bottle and in which 15 The present invention is also in some respects the fiow of liquid may be cut off in an improved an improvement on the bottle filling machine manner when the bottle has been filled to the and method of the patent to F. W. Muller, No. predetermined level.

1,919,665, of July 25, 1933. In the said Muller Another object is to provide, in a receptacle patent, a bottle filling apparatus and method filling method and apparatus of the class referred 20 is des d by Which a pp y of liquid beverage, to, improved means for maintaining pressure in such for example as beer, is maintained in a the receptacles to be filled opposing the pressure bottle filling tank at a predetermined substantially of the liquid in a supply tank for filling the recepconstant level of liquid in the tank and at a tacles and in which the supply tank pressure predetermined Substantially Constant pressure may be maintained substantially constant. 25 of gas in the tank above the surface of the liquid Another object is to provide, in a receptacle therein, the gas, preferably, being that which filling method and apparatus of the class reemanates from the beer; filling of the bottles ferred to, improved means for maintaining presis accomplished under conditions wherein gas sure in the receptacles being filled slightly in first admitted to the bottles opposes the flow of excess of the pressure in a filling tank above the 30 liquid thereto to a diminishing degree until a liquid therein and improved means for maintainbalance of flow inducing and flow opposing presing this difference of pressure substantially consure is efiected, with the bottles properly filled stant. to a predetermined level. Another object is to provide, in a receptacle As described in the said Muller patent, the filling apparatus of the class referred to com- 35 liquid is introduced into the bottle at a point prising a supply tank from which the beverage adjacent the bottom thereof in a manner largely is supplied to fill the receptacles, improved avoiding agitation, through a relatively long means for maintaining the beverage in the tank filling tube extending downwardly into the botat a substantially constant level.

tle, and after the bottle has been filled to the Another object is to provide, in a receptacle 40 said predetermined level, the withdrawal of the filling method and apparatus of the class referred filling tube from the bottle causes the liquid level to, means whereby the rate of flow of liquid into in the bottle to be lowered an amount equal to the receptacles may be predetermined and subthe liquid displacement previously effected by stantially maintained from the start of the filling the tube. operation to the completion thereof whereby the 45 It is an object of my invention to provide an minimum of time will be consumed in filling of improved method and apparatus for filling rethe receptacles. ceptacles such as bottles with liquid to a preother objects will be apparent to those skilled determined height of liquid in the bottle and in the art to which my invention appertains.

more rapidly than has heretofore been possible, My invention is fully disclosed in the following 50 so that the maximum number of bottles may description taken in connection with the accombe filled in the minimum of time, all to the same panying drawings, in which: height of liquid in the bottles. Fig. 1 is a view illustrating, partly diagram- Another object of the invention is to provide matically, a bottle filling machine or apparatus for the efficient rapid successive filling of a large and a reservoir of beverage supply and conduit 55 connections and controlling apparatus associated therewith embodying my invention, and whereby the method of my invention may be practiced;

Fig. 2 a cross-sectional view of a compensator valve mechanism which I may employ in connection with the apparatus of Fig. 1 and which is shown therein to a smaller scale;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view to an enlarged scale of a valve mechanism embodying a part of my invention and shown to a smaller scale in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a part of the machine of Fig. 1, drawn to a larger scale, and illustrating in section a valve mechanism shown in elevation in Fig. 1 and which I may employ to control the flow of liquid to the bottles to be filled.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown generally at I a bottle filling machine standing upon a floor 2, the machine comprising a beverage liquid bottle filling supply tank 3 in the upper portion thereof. The tank 3 is rotatable with and supported upon a central tubular column 4 and rotating power is supplied by a worm and gear mechanism 6.

A conduit 1 communicates with the interior of the tubular column 4, and interiorly thereof joins with a conduit 8 discharging into the tank 3 and a suitable rotary coupling (not shown) connects the conduit "I with the conduit 8 whereby the tank 3 and conduit 3 may rotate relatively to the conduit "I.

A disc 9 rotates with the column 4 and supports a plurality of annularly disposed bottle lift devices I0I0 and bottle filling valve devices I I I I, the latter being shown separately and to a larger scale in Fig. 4. By the construction thus briefly described it will be apparent that the tank 3 and the entire superstructure including the disc 9, bottle lift devices I0 and valves II may all be rotated as a unit with the tubular column 4.

The operations of the machine, generally, with respect to the mechanical movement transmitted to the bottles, the operation of the valve devices II, and filling of the bottles from liquid in the tank 3, are similar to the operations described in the aforesaid Champ patents and need not be described in complete detail here. It may suffice to say that generally the bottles, two of which are indicated at I2 and I3, are placed on the bottle lift devices Ill-I0, a relatively large number of which is provided. The lift devices are arranged to travel in a circular path as described above about the axis of the tubular column4. The bottles start in their movements from a depressed position such as that illustrated for the bottle I3 wherein filling has not yet been started and are moved to an elevated position illustrated for the bottle I2 wherein filling may be accomplished.

The different bottles are progressively moved from the preliminary position I3 to the ultimate position I2 and are then filled and thence moved to a discharge position on the other side of the machine Where they are again depressed from the filling position and are removed from contact with the filling valve structure II, which will be described, and are then capped.

The form of the machine shown inthe drawings, is one adapted to continuously operate in connection with a continuous succesion of bottles, the operations being successive, overlapping and continuous from the time the bottles are placed on the lift until they are removed therefrom after being carried in a rotative path around the machine.

In the following description of parts of the machine and their mode of operation more pertinent to theinstant invention, reference will be had chiefly to the filling of a single bottle considering it as entering the apparatus as indicated at I2 and continuing until the bottle has been filled and removed from its supporting lift ID.

The lift devices I0 are operated by compressed air supplied, from a source and in a manner to be described, to a header I4 rotatable with the other parts of the superstructure described and connected by a, conduit I5 to the lift device.

The valve device I I, shown separately in Fig. 4, comprises a rotatable valve element I6 rotatable to different successive positions by a crank I! as the latter engages stationary abutments during the rotation of the machine superstructure, and may admit air from the header I4, the conduit I5 and branch conduit I8, (Figs. 1 and 4) through a valve port I9 either directly to the lift device ID or to the atmosphere through a duct not shown to operate the lift device.

A valve and lift device like that herein briefly described and illustrated in simplified form is shown and described more completely in the above-mentioned Muller patent to which reference may be had for a more complete description.

The valve device II, Fig. 4, has depending therefrom a filling tube 2! upon which is telescopically slidably mounted a sealing cap 22. As the bottle is moved upwardly by the lift device II), the tube 2| enters the mouth of the bottle I2 and the bottle picks up the cap 22 and carries it upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 4 which is the final upward position of the bottle before filling it. The bottle is sealed on a sealing washer 23 in the cap 22 and the latter is itself sealed as at 2 on a packing 25 on the device.

The cap, indicated generally at 22, is in the form of a thick walled tube having a central bore III] slidable on the filling tube 2|. The lower end has a bell-shaped cavity III for centering the open end or" the bottle therein. The lower bell-shaped end of the cap is screwthreadedly secured on the upper portion by threads II2 whereby the sealing washer 23 may be clamped between shoulders H3 and H4 on the threadedly engaged parts. The upper portion H5 of the cap has an air duct H3 extending longitudinally therethrough, the lower end opening into a pocket H7 in which is trapped at float valve ball N8, the ball normally resting in the lower part of the cavity III, for example upon the packing washer 23, leaving the lower end or mouth of the duct I I 5 open.

A shoulder H9 is provided on the portion II5 of the sealing cap adapted to rest upon a collar I20 on the lower end of the filling tube to support the sealing cap in its lowermost position on the tube and as illustrated in the right-hand part of Fig. 1.

The packing washer 23 is provided with a central perforation I2I larger than the tube 2| and providing a free air passageway therethrough communicating with the pocket II I and duct I I8 for a purpose to be described.

The upper end of the portion II5 of the cap has an annular recess I22 formed therein generally coaxially of the bore III) and the upper end of the duct IIG opens thereinto and there is thus provided two annular bead portions, one being the sealing portion 24 above referred to, and the other being indicated at I23. The packing 25 above referred to is clamped in a suitable recess in the housing 32 by a gland type nut I24 threaded as at I25 into the recess. The packing 25 is generally in the form of a thick circular disc and has in its upper surface an annular groove or recess I26 and a pair of axially extending ducts I2I-l2? opening at their upper ends into the recess I25 and at their lower ends opening intolthe recess I22. The chamber 30 above the packing 25 is of sufficiently great diameter to freely communicate with the recess I 26.

Thus, in any rotated position in which the packing washer 25 may be assembled in its recess and in any rotated position around the filling tube 2 I which the sealing cap 22 may take in operation thereof to be described, there will always be free communication from the chamber 30 to the duct H6, and thence by way of the pocket I I I to and through the perforation I2 I.

When the bottle is lifted as above referred to, the upper or mouth end thereof is guided by the shape of the cavity III to telescopically receive the end of the filling tube 2I and then to engage the packing washer 23. The washer 23 is preferably provided also with a downwardly flaring recess I28 whereby to center the mouth of the bottle with the perforation I25. As the bottle moves upwardly, it thus picks up the complete sealing cap construction 22 and carries it upwardly until the annular beads I23 and 24 are sealed upon the packing 25.

The bottle is now ready for filling and the valve I6 is turned another part of a revolution which opens the port 26 in the valve, effecting communication between the interior of the tank 3 and the filling tube 2|, allowing liquid in the tank to fiow through the tube into the bottle; and at the same time admitting air or other gas from a header 21 through a conduit 28 and through a second valve port 29 to the chamber 30 in the housing 32 and thence through the conduits I2! and H6 and the pocket Ill and through the perforation I2I to the interior of the bottle I 2.

As will be more fully described, liquid in the supply tank 3 is under pressure of gas above the level of the liquid. The air or gas pressure applied to the interior of the bottle I 2 from the header 2'! is, in a manner to be described, adjustable in value. In the preferred practice of my invention, the pressure is substantially the same as the pressure in the tank 3 above the liquid but may be slightly in excess of that pressure by any desired amount. Thus the resulting motivating force which causes liquid to flow from the tank into the bottle through the tube is the hydraulic head of liquid in the tube 2I or this head minus the excess of pressure of the air or other gas applied to the bottle interior over and above the pressure in the tank above the liquid.

Whether the pressure applied to the bottle interior from the header 2? is to be adjusted to be the same as the pressure in the tank above the liquid or in excess of the same or less than the same, will be determined by the nature of the liquid with which the bottle is to be filled and the rapidity with which it may be allowed to flow into the bottle without agitating the same unduly and. causing an undue amount of absorbed gas to escape from the liquid.

In order that the bottles may be filled in the shortest time permissible, the pressure in the header 2! is adjusted to be as low as permissible and at the same time avoid the undue agitation and loss of gas referred to. I have found in practice that with beverages such as beer, the header pressure may be adjusted to be substantially equal to that in the tank above the liquid, which in practice may be about six pounds per square inch, so that the liquid flows into the bottle through the filling tube by the unopposed hydraulic head thereof.

The liquid thus flows rapidly into the bottle filling it, and the air therein under the applied pressure is forced out of the bottle back up through the perforation I2I into the pocket II! and thence by the duct II6 back through the valve port 29 into the header 21.

When the bottle has been completely filled, the liquid continues to rise above the top of the bottle, filling the perforation I2I and overflowing into the pocket II I and ultimately raising the float ball II8 until it rises and seals the lower end of the duct II 6 whereupon further flow of liquid ceases. The height of level may now be that indicated by the line I29, the height depending upon the size and proportion of the parts as will be understood and upon the depth to which the float ball II 8 floats in the liquid as it rises.

The valve I6 is now turned to shut off the ports 26 and 29 and to open the port I9 to operate the bottle lift device Ill to lower the bottle. As the bottle moves downwardly, the sealing cap 22 moves downwardly therewith, maintaining the seal between the bottle mouth and the packing washer 23; the filling tube 2| is by this movement relatively withdrawn and the liquid in the bottle moves downwardly to occupy the volume displaced by the tube in the liquid, and thus room is made for liquid in the pocket II! and perforation I2I to flow downwardly into the bottle. As will now appear, the amount of liquid in the pocket II! and perforation I2I may be made as great as desired so that by the time the tube is entirely withdrawn, as much as desired of the displacement volume thereof will be filled with liquid from the pocket II'I. Thus, as will be clear, the bottle may be filled to any desired level however high therein.

When the bottle reaches the bottom of its movement, the downward movement of the sealing cap 22 is arrested by engagement of the shoulder H9 with the ring I20 and the bottle is completely withdrawn. The tube 2I remains filled with liquid, being closed at its upper end and subjected to atmospheric pressure at its lower end.

As will now be apparent, in filling the bottle liquid will flow rapidly thereinto, not only at the beginning of the filling, but at the end thereof without great diminution in rate of flow, as distinguished from those methods of filling bottles in which the counter or bottle pressure balances the hydraulic head and the tank pressure at the attainment of the final level in the bottle, the rate of filling in such systems becoming slower and slower and ultimately stopping when the bottle is filled. Furthermore, as will now be clear, bottles filled as above described may have the liquid level therein as near to the mouth of the bottle as desired inasmuch as the displacement of liquid in the bottle by the filling tube is compensated by the addition of liquid when the tube is withdrawn. Preferably, however, a small air space is left at the top of the bottle to facilitate capping the same for well known reasons.

The compressed air header I4 is supplied with compressed air through a conduit 33 carried through the tank 3 and communicating with a radial arm 34 on a rotary coupling device shown generally at 35, to be described. The header 2! in the tank 3 communicates by a conduit or pipe 36 with a vertical pipe 3! in the tank 3, which passes outwardly through the tank and communicates with a radially disposed arm 38 on the device 35. A third arm 39 on the device communicates with the interior of the tank 3 by a short conduit 40 at the top or cover 4| of the tank.

The rotary coupling device 35 comprises a cylindrical body 4| adapted to rotate with the tank within stationary couplings 42, 43, 44 telescoped and sealed thereon, and each of the couplings communicating interiorly with external stationary conduits 45, 46, 41 respectively. An internal duct in the body 4| communicates at one end with the coupling 42 and through the arm 34 with the conduit 33; and an internal duct communicates with the coupling 43 and the duct 40; and an internal duct communicates with the coupling 44 through the arm 38 with the conduit 31.

Thus, open communication is at all times maintained between the conduits 45, 46 and 41, and the conduit 33 supplying compressed air to the head I4, and the conduit 45 communicating with the tank 3 and the conduit 31 supplying air or gas under pressure to the head 21 respectively; and during rotation of the tank and its superstructure as described relative to the conduits 45, 46 and 41.

The couplings 42, 43 and 44 may be sealed on the cylindrical body 4| in any suitable manner as for example by pressing the couplings together by a compression spring 48 under a nut 49 on the body. This construction may be variously modifled and does not constitute an essential part of my present invention.

The foregoing description applies particularly to the bottle filling machine proper and there will now be described means for continuously supplying liquid to the tank 3 to replace that which flows into the bottles and for maintaining the liquid in the tank 3 at substantially a constant level and at a predetermined pressure of gas above the liquid surface in the tank; and for establishing the liquid level and tank pressure upon starting up the machine.

The tank 3 at a point well above the desired level of liquid and preferably in the cover 4| thereof is provided with a pressure gauge 50. Laterally of the tank 3 a liquid level indicating gauge 5| of the conventional glass tube type is provided communicating with the interior of the tank above and below the desired level. Within the tank a float valve is provided comprising a float 52 in the liquid, adapted, upon rising with a rise of liquid level, to close a valve port at 53 in the upper end of a pipe 54 which pipe extends downwardly through the bottom of the tank, and below the tank is provided with a vent valve 55 manually operable.

The conduit 45 which communicates with the interior of the tank through the conduit 40 as described, connects by a conduit 56 with a conduit 51 which is connected to a source of gas pressure supply. The pressure supply may be a supply of compressed air provided by a pump or other means; or it may be a supply of other gas under pressure such for example as carbondioxide. The conduit 56 may be manually controlled by a valve 58 and a supplemental gauge 59 may be provided in the line of the conduit 55 if desired.

The conduit 1 above described has in the line thereof a manually operable valve 60. The conduit l continues along the floor 2, downwardly therethrough as at 6|, to a basement or lower floor of the building in which the machine is installed and connects to a conduit 62 which communicates with the interior of a plurality such as two large capacity reservoirs or tanks, commonly known in this art as government tanks, 63-63. The communication with the tanks 63 is effected preferably at a point relatively low in the reservoir but not at the bottom thereof whereby dregs may accumulate on the bottom of the tank without being discharged out through the conduit 62.

At an upper portion of each reservoir 63, a conduit 65 is connected, communicating with the interior of the tank through a manually operable valve 66; and connected with the conduit 65 is a conduit 61 passing upwardly through the floor 2 and joining a conduit 68, which is connected to the conduit 51.

In the line of the conduit 68 is connected a compensator valve device, indicated generally at 69. Communicating with the device 69 is also a counter-pressure conduit ":0 joining the conduit 46 and thus communicating with the interior of the tank 3 at 40. The compensator valve device 69 will be more fully described later.

The reservoirs or government tanks 63-63 are filled, or substantially filled, with beer or liquid to be bottled, and when the liquid has all been discharged therefrom and bottled in a manner to be described, these tanks are disconnected from the system and cleaned out to remove the dregs from the bottom thereof and are then re-filled from a manufactured supply. A cycle of operations for the bottle filling machine is thus established determined by the joint capacity of the tanks 63. At the end of this cycle, the bottling machine must either be shut down or the conduits I and 6'! must be disconnected and connected to another set of tanks 63 to start a new cycle.

At the beginning of each cycle it is necessary or desirable to establish initially or reestablish the liquid level and pressure in the tank 3, and this operation will now be described in connection with the apparatus above referred to.

The rotation of the tank 3 is stopped and all of the valves l6 are turned to the 01? position manually. The valve 60 in the conduit line I is closed and the pressure supplied to the tank 53 is closed, either by a valve H or a valve 12 in the conduit line 68.

After the tanks 63 have been cleaned out and refil1ed or connections have been made to a supplemental set of tanks, the valve 58 in the conduit line 56 is opened admitting the pressure of a supply of air or gas therethrough the conduit whereby the pressure is. communicated to the conduit 46 and the conduit 40 to the interior of the tank 3. The pressure in the tank is thus permitted to increase until it indicates a predetermined pressure such as six pounds on the gauge 50. The valve 58 may then be closed. The valve II or 12, or both, are then opened to admit the supply pressure to the tanks 63 above the liquid therein. The valve 60 is then slowly opened and beer is forced out of the tank 63 upwardly through the conduits and 8 into the tank 3.

It is assumed that at this time the level of the liquid in the tank 3 is below the normal predetermined desired level and therefore the float 52 is in a lowered position which holds open the valve port 53. As the liquid flows into the tank 3 its rising level is indicated on the gauge To insure that it will rise to the correct level, the vent 55 is partly opened manually to allow some of the gas in the tank to escape and to be replaced by liquid. When a desired level has been reached, the float 52 closes the valve port 53 and then the vent 55 is opened its full amount for subsequent release purposes. Venting at the vent 55 ceases when liquid has reached its correct level. The rising level of liquid in the tank 3 tends to increase the pressure above its surface as indicated on the gauge 59. Until the predetermined level is reached, the gas above the liquid may escape through the vent 55 so that regardless of the pressure above the liquid, the liquid will continue to rise to the predetermined level. But in all cases and at all times, the pressure in the tank above the liquid is prevented from rising from the predetermined value such as six pounds regardless of the value of the pressure externally applied to the reservoirs 63, by the compensator valve device which will now be described.

Upon establishing the predetermined level in the tank and at the predetermined pressure, the machine may be revolved and the bottling process resumed. As the liquid rises in the tank 3, the air which was introduced thereinto is displaced by gas emanating from the beer, carbonated beverage or like liquid supplied to the tank, Thus the space in the tank above the liquid is cut off from contact with contaminating air, when the source of pressure supply is compressed air.

The compensator valve device 69, shown separately in Fig. 2, comprises an upper housing 15 and a lower housing 16 having confronting annular flanges H and 18 between which is clamped a circular diaphragm 19 by bolts 80 projected through the flanges and the diaphragm.

The diaphragm H! is normally flexed down wardly by a compression spring 8| in a tubular portion 82 of the housing 15, the lower end of the spring 8! communicating thrust to the diaphragm through a tubular head 83 upon which its lower end abuts and which rests upon a plate 84 on the upper side of the diaphragm. The upper end of the spring 8| abuts upon a head 85 axially adjustably movable in the tubular portion 82 by an adjusting screw 85 threaded in a cover 81 on the upper end of the tubular portion 82.

The lower housing I6 has ducts 88 and 89 leading thereinto through conduit connecting threaded nipple elements 63a and 68b whereby the ducts 88 and 89 may be connected in the line of the conduit 68 above described. Inwardly the duct 88 communicates with a ported valve seat 95 opening into a chamber SI and the duct 89 communicates with the chamber 9|.

A vertically movable valve element 92 guided on a lower portion thereof by a cylindrical extension 93 movable in a bore 94 of the lower housing engages the valve seat 9i! in its upper position to close the duct 33. An upper portion of the valve element 92 is connected to the diaphragm 79, preferably by clamping the plate 8 5 on the upper side of the diaphragm and a plate 95 on the lower side thereof between a shoulder 55 at a reduced portion 91 of the valve element and a nut 98 threaded on the reduced portion. The valve element is thus movable with the diaphragm.

A chamber 99 in the lower housing 16 below the diaphragm 19 is sealed from the chamber 9| by a diaphragm I00 sealed at its central portion upon the valve element 92 and at its periphery sealed upon the housing 76, preferably being clamped between a shoulder l0l provided on the housing 16 and an annular nut I52 threaded into a suitable threaded bore in the housing 16.

A conduit connection 70d provides communication with the chamber 99 through a duct I03 and is adapted to be connected to the conduit above described.

Pressure on the lower side of the diaphragm applied through the duct )3 from the conduit may compress the spring 8| and lift the valve element 92 and close the duct 88. The reduction of said pressure will permit the spring 8| to move the diaphragm downwardly and open the duct 88 and effect communication from the duct 88 through the ported valve seat 95 into the chamber 9| and thence out through the duct 89.

In operation, the spring 8| is adjusted so that if the pressure in the tank 3 above the liquid, which pressure is transmitted from the tank through the conduit 40, conduit 10 and connection 190., Fig. 2, to the lower side of the diaphragm, exceeds the predetermined pressure such as six pounds, the diaphragm 19 will be lifted against the tension of the spring SI and close the communication through the conduit 58 and ducts 88 and 89 by closing the ported valve seat 99. This, as will now be understood, cuts off the supply of pressure from the conduit 51 to the reservoirs 6353 and stops further supply of liquid to the tank 3. If the pressure in the tank 3 correspondingly should fall, the spring 82 will effect opening of the ported valve seat 93 and admit pressure to the reservoirs 63 and admit more liquid to the tank 3 which, in turn, tends to compress the gas above the liquid and raise the pressure thereof to correspondingly prevent the addition of more liquid when the predetermined desired level has been reached.

The drawing of liquid from the tank 3 to fill the bottles in the operation of the machine tends to reduce the pressure above the liquid in the tank and this, by means of the compensator valve described, effects the application of pressure to the reservoirs 6363 to elevate more liquid into the tank 3 and restore the pressure therein. In practice the regulation is accomplished continuously so that the level in the tank and the pressure thereabove are maintained substantially constant.

If, due to any extraneous cause, pressure in the tank 3 above the liquid should increase in spite of the fact that outside pressure was cut off from the reservoirs 63 by the compensator valve, the liquid would tend to fall slightly, and, through the action of the float 52, would open the valve port 53 and vent some of the pressure through the vent valve 55 to restore the predetermined pressure. If, similarly, due to any extraneous cause, the pressure in the tank above the liquid should decrease, the compensator valve would effect application of pressure to the reservoirs 63-63 to restore the pressure in the tank 3 but at a higher level than the desired level. This could be counteracted by admitting gas under pressure into the conduits 56-10 by momentarily opening the valve 58 to restore the liquid to its former predetermined level and then again shutting off the valve 58 after which the apparatus will operate as described to maintain the level and pressure in the tank 3.

The change of pressure in the tank 3 by the referred to extraneous causes do not occur in the ordinary operation of the apparatus and when once the system is put into operation, it will operate over long periods of time maintaining the pressure and level in the tank 3 substantially constant. They are only mentioned here to show that the apparatus and system are operable to correct abnormal conditions which might arise.

The elements of the system and apparatus for applying counter-pressure to the interiors of the bottles will now be described. A regulator device, shown generally at I06 in Fig. 1 and illustrated separately to a larger scale in Fig. 3, is connected to the conduits 10 and 41 and to a conduit I05 communicating with the pressure supply of air or other gas 51 in connection with the following construction.

The regulator valve device I06 comprises an upper housing portion I30 and a lower housing portion I3I. A diaphragm I32 is clamped by bolts I33 between peripheral flanges I34 and I35 on the upper and lower housing portions respectively. The conduit 10 communicates with the interior of the housing portion I30 above the diaphragm I 32 and the conduit I05 communicates with the interior of the housing portion I3I below the diaphragm. A head, indicated generally at I36, is secured to the central portion of the diaphragm I32 and comprises a pair of preferably circular plates I31 and I38 on the upper and lower sides respectively of the diaphragm, peripheral portions of the plates being flared away from the diaphragm as shown at I 39-I39 to permit large radius bending of the diaphragm around the edges of the plates. The central portions of the plates are thickened, and a tubular stud I40 is projected downwardly through the upper plate and threaded into the lower plate and a cup-form nut MI is threaded on the stud I40 above the upper plate whereby the two plates may be clamped rigidly together on opposite sides of the diaphragm.

The upper housing portion I30 has an upwardly extending tubular extension I42. A rotary stud I43 within the extension I42 has a cylindrical shank I44 extending upwardly through a perforation I45 in the closed end of the tubular extension I42 and is sealed therein by a packing I46 and a gland nut I41, the shank I44 having a square or hexagonal end I48 projecting out of the nut I41 whereby the stud I43 may be rotated with a suitable wrench. The stud I43 has a traveling nut I49 thereon, peripheral portions of which are splined on a plurality of splines I50-I50 whereby on rotation of the stud I43, the nut may be propelled longitudinally without rotation.

A compression spring I5I is disposed to abut at opposite ends upon the nut I49 and on a flange I52 of the cup-form nut I4I. By this construction upon turning the stud I43, the tension of the spring I 5| may be adjusted to adjust the resilient thrusts downwardly thereof upon the diaphragm I32.

The diaphragm plates I31 and I38 are provided with a plurality such as three elevated bosses I53 and I54, and the upper and lower housing portions I30 and I3I are provided with annular bead portions I55 and I56 confronting the bosses I53 and I54 and adapted to be engaged by the bosses at extreme movements of the diaphragm I32 to suitably limit and stop the movements thereof.

The upper end of the nut MI is of reduced diameter and has a ball I51 formed on the end thereof and axially slidably fitted in a suitable bore I58 in the stud I43 to guide the movements of the diaphragm. Depending from the plate I38 is a plurality such as three posts, I59, screwthreaded at their upper ends into the plate, and at their lower ends reduced in diameter as at I91 providing shoulders I98. The reduced portions I91 have free sliding movement in corresponding bores in a valve plate I60 having a central perforation I6I therethrough provided with an interior shoulder I62 against which is seated a sealing washer I63, the washer being retained in place against the shoulder by a head I64 screw-threaded into the perforation I6I to clamp the washer against the shoulder, the head I64 having an extension I65 axially slidably movable in a bore I66 formed in a guide I61 which, cooperating with the ball I51 and bore I58 above described, jointly guides the movements of the diaphragm.

The guide I61 may be provided in the form of a tube having a flange I68 screw-threaded into a downwardly extending coaxial tubular extension I69 of the lower housing portion I3I. The lower end of the tubular extension I69 is generally closed but has a central perforation I10 through which extends the shank I1I of a rotatable stud I12 disposed in the extension. The shank I1I is sealed in the perforation by a packing I13 and the gland nut I14, the shank I1I projecting outward- 1y through the nut I14 and provided with a wrench-receiving end I15 for turning the stud I12.

A traveling nut I16 is threaded on the stud I12 and peripheral portions thereof are splined on a plurality of splines I11I11 whereby on turning the stud I12, the nut I 16 may travel longitudinally without rotating. A compression spring I18 abuts at one end upon the nut I16 and on the other end abuts upon a head I19, the upper surface of which is provided centrally with a recess I into which projects a pointed projection I8I on the extension I65.

By this construction, the spring I18 exerts adjustable resilient thrust upon the lower side of the diaphragm through the extension I65, valve plate I60 and posts I59.

A valve seat head I82 is disposed under the diaphragm and within an adjacent portion of the tubular extension I69, supported by a stem I83 connected to the wall of the extension. The stem I83 has a duct I84 therein and the conduit I05 above referred to is threaded into the wall of the extension to communicate with the duct I84. Inwardly of the head I82 the duct I84 communicates with a valve port I85 having an annular valve seat I86 engaged by the sealing washer I63 above referred to and adapted to be opened and closed by downward and upward movements of the valve plate I60 in a manner to be described.

The upper end of the head I82 is provided with a similar opposite valve port I81 having an annular valve seat I 88, and the port I81 communicates with a duct I89 which communicates through the metal of the tubular extension I 69 with the atmosphere as at I90.

A valve comprising a stem I9I axially slidably guided in the bore of the tubular stud I40 carries on its lower end a sealing washer I92 for sealing the valve seat I88 to close the port I81 and is normally resiliently pressed upon the seat by a spring I93 abutting at one end upon the lower end of the tubular stud I40 and at its other end upon a. transverse head I94 which carries the sealing washer I92. The upper end of the stem I92 is threaded and carries a nut I95 adapted to engage the upper end of the threaded stud I49 to limit downward movement of the valve, the movement being adjustable by adjusting the nut.

According to the foregoing construction, movement of the diaphragm downwardly as viewed in the drawings will open the valve port I96 at the valve seat I86 by withdrawing the valve plate I69 and sealing washer I63 and establish communication from the conduit I99 to the interior of the housing portion I99 and apply the pressure in the conduit I95 to the lower side of the diaphragm I32. During this movement of the diaphragm, the spring I93 retains the valve I94 on the seat I88 and maintains the port I81 closed, the stem I9I sliding in the tubular stud I49. Upon downward movement of the diaphragm, the shoulders I98 on the posts I59 engage the upper side of the valve plate I69 and move it downwardly to open the port I96; and upon upward movement of the diaphragm, the valve plate I69 is stopped upon the valve seat I86, closing the port I96, and the shoulders I99 are withdrawn from the plate, the reduced portions I91 sliding in their bores in the plate. Thus the diaphragm may have a limited vertical up and down movement without disturbing the seal of the port I91.

Upon sufficient movement upwardly of the diaphragm, however, the upper end of the tubular stud I49 will pick up the nut I95 and therewith the stem I9I, opening the valve port I89.

The conduit 19 is connected to the housing portion I39 to communicate with the interior thereof above the diaphragm I38.

In the operation of the regulator device above described in connection with the apparatus of Fig. 1, it will be observed that at all times the upper side of the diaphragm I32 is subjected to the pressure of the gas above the liquid level in the filling tank by means of the conduit 19, tending to move the diaphragm downwardly. The spring II assists this gas pressure. At the time of starting up the apparatus, there is no opposing pressure on the lower side of the diaphragm I32 and therefore the diaphragm assumes its lowermost position closing the valve port I89 and opening the valve port I96.

Air or other gas under pressure from the conduit 51 is then admitted to the conduit I95 and it flows through the valve port I96 and into the housing below the diaphragm, and flowing also into and through the conduit 41 to the header 21 for application of pressure to bottle interiors as above described. The incoming gas or air causes an accumulation of pressure in the counter-pressure system just referred to and reaches a value sufiicient to raise the diaphragm I32, permitting the valve port I96 to be closed by the spring I18, shutting off further increase of counter-pressure.

Inasmuch as the counter-pressure on the diaphragm must oppose both the tank pressure in the conduit 19 and the spring I5I, it may continue to increase until it is in excess over the gas pressure above the diaphragm by a predetermined amount necessary to compress the spring. In this way, the counter-pressure may always be greater than the tank gas pressure by any predetermined amount which can be varied by adjusting the tension of the spring I5I.

Where it is desired to employ a bottle counterpressure equal to the gas tank pressure, the tension of the spring I5I may be weakened until it is substantially ineffective.

In the operation of the bottle filling machine above described, when the liquid flowing into the bottles forces the counter-pressure gas out of the bottles, the air or gas in the counter-pressure system, being discharged thereinto from a succession of bottles, accumulates and causes the counter-pressure to increase. This, as will now be understood, causes the diaphragm I32 to be gradually moved upwardly and ultimately to open the valve port I89 whereupon counter-pressure or bottle air is vented through the port I89 and duct I99 to the atmosphere to lower or restore the counter-pressure to its desired predetermined value.

Normally the bottle filling machine mayoperate over substantial periods of time Without the admission of additional counter-pressure air through the valve port I96 and may continuously or intermittently discharge excess bottle air through the conduit I99 to the atmosphere. Should the tank pressure above the liquid therein increase due to any extraneous cause, it will lower the diaphragm I32 from its normal position and admit more air to the counter-pressure system to maintain the predetermined pressure therein. Similarly, should the tank gas pressure decrease due to any extraneous cause, the diaphragm I32 will be raised by the excess of counter-pressure and vent a part thereof to establish the predetermined counter-pressure.

The spring I18 may be adjusted to counterbalance the weight of the parts and to prevent opening of the valve port I96 by pressure applied through the conduit I95. Furthermore, adjusting the spring I5I alone would adjust the venting counter-pressure, and adjusting the spring I18 alone will adjust the value of counter-pressure at which more gas or air is admitted to the system. By adjusting either or both springs in the direction to assist the counter-pressure in moving the diaphragm upwardly, will reduce the predetermined pressure difierence between the tank gas pressure and the bottle counter-pressure, if any, and therefore will cause the bottles to fill more rapidly and vice versa, whereby the rate of filling may be adjusted.

As will now be understood from the foregoing description, in the operation of the machine as a whole, the interior of a bottle such as the bottle I2 is first subjected to pressure of air or other gas in the header 21 and then, as the liquid flows from the tank 3 into the bottle, the gaseous contents of the bottle are forced out and back into the header 21. Thus there is a tendency for pressure to accumulate in the conduit system 21-41 and a tendency for the bottle pressure to increase. This will tend to close the valve port I96 in the regulator device I96 and then to stop the supply of pressure through the conduit I95 from the outside source. To prevent the accumulation of pressure occasioned by adding the bottle air to the system, it may be vented to the atmosphere from the device I96 through the valve port I69 and duct I99. On the other hand, to maintain the bottle pressure to prevent its decreasing, the regulator I96 may admit pressure from the outside source. By adjusting the regulator I96, the counter or bottle pressure may be adjusted to regulate the rate at which the liquid flows into the bottle to thereby regulate the time of filling.

Both the regulator I96 and the compensator device 69 are controlled in their operation by pressure from the tank 3 in the conduit 1 to maintain the said relation between the counter-pressure and the pressure in the tank 3.

It will further appear that not only can the rate of flow of liquid into the bottle be adjustably regulated, but when once predetermined will remain fixed so that all bottles successively will be filled in the same length of time, whereby the machine as a whole may be operated at the maximum rate without danger that some bottles will be insufiiciently filled and others filled too full.

My invention is not limited to the precise details of method illustrated and described herein nor to the exact details of construction whereby the method may be practiced inasmuch as many modifications and changes may be made within the scope and spirit of my invention Without sacrificing its advantages.

I claim:

1. In a receptacle filling apparatus, a supply source of liquid comprising means for maintaining it at a substantially constant liquid head, receptacle filling conduit means for conducting liquid from the source to a receptacle to be filled, a supply source of counter-pressure gas, conduit means for communicating gas from the source to the receptacle interior and for maintaining the counter-pressure gas out of contact with the source of liquid and for receiving gas displaced from the receptacle interior by liquid flowing thereinto, valve means for controlling the conduit means to control the admission of counter-pressure gas to the receptacle interior, and for controlling the admission of liquid to the receptacle interior, and an automatic cutofi valve device for stopping escape of gas from the receptacle after a predetermined quantity of liquid has been supplied to the receptacle through the conduit means, to automatically stop fiow of liquid through the conduit means to the receptacle.

2. In a receptacle filling apparatus, a supply source of liquid comprising means for maintaining it at a substantially constant liquid head, receptacle filling conduit means for conducting liquid from the source to a receptacle to be filled, a supply source of counter-pressure gas, conduit means for communicating gas from the source to the receptacle interior and for maintaining the counter-pressure gas out of contact with the source of liquid and for receiving gas displaced from the receptacle interior by liquid fiowing thereinto, valve means for controlling the admission of counter-pressure gas to the receptacle interior, and for controlling the admission of liquid to the receptacle interior through the conduit means, and an automatic cut-off valve device for stopping flow of liquid to the receptacle after a predetermined quantity of liquid has been supplied thereto.

3. In a receptacle filling apparatus, a receptacle filling head construction comprising a movable head element having a passageway therethrough, a receptacle filling tube for insertion into the receptacle, a source of liquid supply maintained at a substantially constant liquid head, a supply source of counter-pressure gas, conduit means for communicating gas from the source to the receptacle interior and for maintaining the counter-pressure gas out of contact with the source of liquid and for receiving gas from the receptacle displaced by liquid filling the receptacle, sealing means for engagement with the open end of the receptacle to seal it on the head element with respect to the passageway, sealing means to seal the head element passageway with respect to the counter-pressure gas conduit means, valve means for controlling admission of counter-pressure gas to the receptacle interior and admission of liquid to the receptacle through the tube, an automatic cut-01f valve means for stopping escape of counterpressure gas from the receptacle after a predetermined quantity of liquid has fiowed thereinto and into the passageway to automatically stop flow of liquid through the tube and means for breaking the seal of the passageway and counter-pressure gas conduit means to permit liquid in the passageway to-sealedly flow into the receptacle upon withdrawal of the tube.

4. In a receptacle filling apparatus, a receptacle filling head construction comprising a movable head element having a passageway therethrough, a receptacle filling tube for insertion into the receptacle, a source of liquid supply maintained at a substantially constant liquid head, a supply source of counter-pressure gas, conduit means for communicating gas from the source to the receptacle interior and for maintaining the counter-pressure gas out of contact with the source of liquid and for receiving gas from the receptacle displaced by liquid filling the receptacle, sealing means for engagement with the open end of the receptacle to seal it on the head element with respect to the passageway, sealing means to seal the head element passageway with respect to the counterpressure gas conduit means, valve means for controlling admission of counter-pressure gas to the receptacle interior and admission of liquid to the receptacle through the tube, an automatic cut-off valve means comprising means operable by rise of level of liquid in the passageway for stopping escape of counter-pressure gas from the receptacle after a predetermined quantity of liquid has flowed thereinto and into the passageway to automatically stop flow of liquid through the tube and means for breaking the seal of the passageway and counterpressure gas conduit means to permit liquid in the passageway to sealedly flow into the receptacle upon withdrawal of the tube.

5. A receptacle filling apparatus as described in claim 3 and in which the automatic cut-ofi valve means is a float valve device actuated by the rising level of liquid in the passageway.

6. In a receptacle filling apparatus, a filling head construction comprising a filling tube for insertion into a receptacle to be filled, means providing a counter-pressure gas duct for applying counter-pressure gas to the receptacle interior and a portion of the duct being at a higher level than the receptacle mouth, sealing means for sealing the receptacle mouth to one portion of the duct, the filling head having means for efiecting communication of the tube with a liquid supply tank maintained at a substantially constant liquid head and for effecting communication of another portion of the duct with a counter-pressure gas supply maintained out of contact with the liquid in the tank, sealing means for sealing the communication of the duct with the counter-pressure gas supply, operablc valve means for controlling the said means to admit liquid to the receptacle interior through the tube and counter-pressure gas to the receptacle interior through the duct, automatic valve means being operable by rise of liquid into the duct portion above the receptacle mouth to stop escape of counter-pressure gas from the receptacle when displaced by liquid entering the receptacle through the tube to thereby stop flow of liquid, means to break the seal of .the communication of the duct with the counter-pressure gas supply, whereby upon withdrawing the tube from the receptacle the liquid in the duct may sealedly fiow back into the receptacle to compensate for liquid displaced by the tube.

'7. The process of filling a receptacle with beer or like beverage from a beverage containing filler tank comprising maintaining the beverage in the tank at substantially a constant level and comprising applying a gas pressure against the tank beverage surface and confinedly communicating beverage therefrom separately to the receptacle interior, the flow being motivated by the resultant of said gas pressure and gravitational force tending to move beverage from the tank to the receptacle, supplying gas under pressure to the receptacle interior in opposition to the flow of beverage thereinto and maintaining the supply of gas out of contact with the beverage in the tank and maintaining said opposing gas pressure in the receptacle at such value that the sum of the motivating forces will always be greater than the opposing gas pressure, and utilizing the fiow of liquid to stop further flow when a predetermined quantity of liquid has flowed into the receptacle.

8. The process of filling a receptacle with beer or like beverage from a beverage containing filler tank comprising maintaining the beverage in the tank at substantially a constant level, and comprising applying a gas pressure against the tank beverage surface and confinedly communicating beverage therefrom separately to the receptacle interior, the flow being motivated by the resultant of said gas pressure and gravitational force tending to move beverage from the tank to the receptacle, supplying gas under pressure to the receptacle interior in opposition to the fiow of beverage thereinto and maintaining the supply of gas out of contact with the beverage in the tank and maintaining said opposing gas pressure in the receptacle at such value that the sum of the motivating forces will always be greater than the opposing gas pressure, the liquid rising in the receptacle and the gas under pressure in the receptacle being displaced by the rising level of liquid, and utilizing the rising level of liquid to abruptly cut ofi further flow of liquid into the receptacle when a predetermined quantity of liquid has flowed thereinto.

9. The process of filling a receptacle with beer or like beverage containing filler tank comprising maintaining the beverage in the tank at substantially a constant level and applying a gas pressure against the tank beverage surface and confinedly communicating beverage therefrom separately to the receptacle interior, the flow being motivated by the resultant of said gas pressure and gravitational force tending to move beverage from the tank to the receptacle, supplying gas under pressure to the receptacle interior in opposition to the fiow of beverage thereinto and maintaining the gas supply out of contact with the beverage in the tank and allowing the gas in the receptacle to escape during filling of the receptacle and maintaining said opposing gas pressure in the receptacle at such value that the sum of the motivating forces will always be greater than the opposing gas pressure, and stopping the escape of gas from the receptacle to stop further fiow when a predetermined quantity of liquid has flowed into the receptacle.

10. In an apparatus for filling receptacles, a

beverage tank with gas under pressure confined therein above a substantially constantly maintained beverage level, conduit means for conducting beverage from the tank to the receptacle interior under the joint motivation of gravitational force acting on the liquid and of the pressure in the tank, a source of counter-pressure gas supply maintained out of contact with the beverage in the tank including conduit means leading therefrom to the receptacle interior whereby the counter-pressure gas may oppose flow of liquid into the receptacle and the counter-pressure gas conduit means may receive gas displaced from the receptacle above the rising level of beverage therein during filling thereof, means to regulate the pressure of the counterpressure gas to a predetermined value always less than the gravity and tank pressure motivating forces acting on the beverage, and a stop valve device for stopping flow of displaced gas from the receptacle to stop fiow of liquid into the receptacle when a predetermined quantity of liquid has flowed into the receptacle.

11. In an apparatus for filling receptacles, a beverage tank with gas under pressure confined therein above a substantially constantly maintained beverage level, conduit means for conducting beverage from the tank to the receptacle interior under the joint motivation of gravitational force acting on the liquid and of the pressure in the tank, a source of counter-pressure gas supply maintained out of contact with the beverage in the tank including conduit means leading therefrom to the receptacle interior whereby the counter-pressure gas may oppose flow of liquid into the receptacle and the counter-pressure gas conduit means may receive gas displaced from the receptacle above the rising level of beverage therein during filling thereof, means to regulate the pressure of the counter-pressure gas to a predetermined value always less than the gravity and tank pressure motivating forces acting on the beverage, and a stop valve device operated by the rising level of receptacle filling liquid to stop fiow of liquid into the receptacle when a predetermined quantity of liquid has flowed thereinto.

12. In a receptacle filling apparatus, a supply source of liquid comprising means for maintaining it at a substantially constant liquid head, receptacle filling liquid conduit means for conducting liquid from the source to a receptacle to be filled, a supply source of counter-pressure gas, conduit means for communicating gas from the source to the receptacle interior and for maintaining the counter-pressure gas out of contact with the source of liquid and for receiving gas displaced from the receptacle interior by liquid flowing thereinto, valve means for controlling the conduit means to control the admission of counter-pressure gas to the receptacle interior and for controlling the admission of liquid to receptacle interior, and an automatic cut-off fioat valve device for stopping escape of gas from the receptacle after a predetermined quantity of liquid has flowed thereinto through the conduit means to fill the receptacle and to fill a portion of the liquid conduit means to a predetermined level above the receptacle to automatically stop flow of liquid through the conduit means.

13. In a receptacle filling apparatus, a source of supply of liquid, a filler head construction comprising valve controlled conduit means com municating with the source and with the interior Of a receptacle to be filled, an apparatus element" having a passageway therethrough, seal means to seal one end of the passageway with the mouth of a receptacle to be filled and the other end of the passageway with respect to the conduit means, whereby liquid flowing into the receptacle may sealedly fill it and. cause gaseous receptacle contents to flow out of the receptacle, valve means to stop further flow of liquid when a predetermined amount has flowed into the passageway whereby the filled receptacle and the apparatus element may be withdrawn to break the seal with the liquid conduit means and the liquid in the passageway may sealedly flow into the receptacle before breaking the seal of the receptacle mouth with the apparatus element.

14. In a receptacle filling apparatus, a source of supply of liquid, a filler head construction comprising valve controlled conduit means communicating with the source and with the interior of a receptacle to be filled, an apparatus element having a passageway therethrough, seal means to seal one end of the passageway with the mouth of a receptacle to be filled and the other end of the passageway with respect to the conduit means, whereby liquid flowing into the receptacle may sealedly fill it and cause gaseous receptacle contents to flow out of the receptacle, automatic float valve means to stop further flow of liquid when a predetermined amount has flowed into the passageway whereby the filled receptacle and the apparatus element may be withdrawn to break the seal with the liquid conduit means and the liquid in the passageway may sealedly flow into the receptacle before breaking the seal of the receptacle mouth with the apparatus element.

15. In a receptacle filling apparatus, a liquid supply conduit means, an air conduit means, a filling head. construction comprising a tube for insertion into a receptacle communicating with the liquid conduit means, a movable head element having a passage-way therethrough, means to seal the mouth of the receptacle on the head element with respect to one end of the passageway, means to seal the head element on the filling head construction to seal the other end of the passageway with respect to the air conduit means, a valve controlling admission of liquid to the receptacle through the tube and escape of air from the receptacle through the passageway to the air conduit means, automatic valve means to shut off flow of liquid to the receptacle when the receptacle and a portion of the passageway sealed therewith has been filled, means to withdraw the filling tube and to break the seal of the head element on the head construction while maintaining the seal of the receptacle mouth to cause liquid in the passageway to be sealedly directed into the receptacle.

16. An apparatus as described in claim 15 and in which the automatic valve means comprises a float valve operable by rise of liquid in the passageway above the receptacle mouth.

CARLTON W. BONDURANT. 

